GTS, thanks for the information. I think the idea behind not using ice may be similar to not constricting bloodflow with a tourniquet etc., in that it's supposed to be better to disperse the toxin throughout the bloodstream rather than having it concentrated in one area (where the stronger concentration might cause more damage, like loss of a limb). Ken, I don't dispute that the best remedy forby Sierrafan - General Discussion
I don't think crack sealing is OK either. Road crack seals are an endangered species, and should be protected. That's why there aren't any in Russia...they had no laws regulating crack sealing, and now look.by Sierrafan - General Discussion
I had read less than half of the book (Death in Yosemite) when we went for our Half Dome trip at the end of May, and found that I remembered a lot of the incidents as I saw reminders along the trails. People don't think much of filling a water bottle next to the roaring Merced, but I think it made me extra-cautious in some of those little things. When you read about people falling in while doby Sierrafan - General Discussion
SoCal Mom wrote: > If I had know that e-Bay had sites for sale I > would have considered buying if the price wasn't prohibitive. > Camping in Yosemite is very difficult to come by when you have > to go in the summer months (kids off school)-I want to know > what the alternative is to obtaining a site from someone who > can't use it? If the 6-night sites were selling for $120 &qby Sierrafan - General Discussion
mrcondron wrote: > It only puts off old wives. > And sometimes future wives as well... 8^)by Sierrafan - General Discussion
We tried the Cutter picardin spray last year in late May, when mosquitoes wer pretty prevalent in and around the valley. We also had deet spray and the lemon-eucalyptus Repel spray, so it was a good chance to see how they compared. My son put the Cutter picardin on and watched the mosquitoes ignore it and help themselves (they were very aggressive on that trip). The deet and the lemon-euc bothby Sierrafan - General Discussion
I appreciate the information; it clarifies things somewhat, and really stresses that if possible, you should get to medical help as quickly as possible. The extractor I was referring is the Sawyer model mentioned, and I'm afraid that despite the advice, if I was a significant distance from help or communication, I'd use it. The amount of time lost is but a few minutes, and if you're a half daby Sierrafan - General Discussion
carlos49er wrote: > Here's a pic of the cables when I went on June 9. I decided to > hang back this trip. Next year I'll go during the weekday. > Looks like a wise decision, that's worse than I've imagined. A good reminder not to go on a weekend. VPW, what time of day was your first photo taken? It looks similar to what I've seen on the cables early in the season, around noby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Mixolydian wrote: > If you remove supply from a situation where there is already > excessive demand, you increase the profit motive for those who > may want to insert themselves as middlemen, much like concert > ticket scalpers. The principle is right, but I think they're separate issues. The scalping is already beginning, with North Pines still in use, so keeping it is not going tby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Vince wrote: > Yosemite campgrounds are mainly bear- and human-riddled garbage > scows anyway. Find an out-of-the-way spot away from the valley > so you don't have to listen to other people, a campsite will > run you maybe $20 or less per night and some places, if you > know where to look, are free. > > Putting a campsite reservation on ebay is really scummy. Talk > aboutby Sierrafan - General Discussion
eeek wrote: > y_p_w wrote: > > > Is it even possible to transfer reservations? > > I don't think they asked for ID last time I stayed there. > I almost hesitate to post this; it made me so mad I'm still grumbling about it. But there are, and have been campsites in the valley campgrounds selling on ebay. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&amby Sierrafan - General Discussion
rms808 wrote: > First time last week!! Just curious I saw no warnings for > rattlesnakes but saw one at the pit stop near the waterfall. Sort of funny they'd be at the "pit" stop being as how they're pit vipers...8^) I've never seen one in the area, though I guess this means I'll leave the suction kit in my backpack. I live in an area where there are a significant number of ratby Sierrafan - General Discussion
When you figure the odds of a falling death from the cables, the value of a helmet is questionable. With only one death (when cables were up), if you figure how many hundred people go up per day for 4 1/2 months a year, and how many years it's been, the odds are astronomical. Some of this has gotten so much attention because of the 3 deaths within the past year, but only one was with cables uby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Mark, I think you would accomplish more if you didn't start labeling people. Your reference to "purists" isn't going to win anyone over when you say it with such apparent comtempt; I saw a similar thing happen at the Yahoo Yosemite group when you presented your case there, and soon RV campers were talking about noisy "tenters" with similar disdain. People have a right to theby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Mixolydian wrote: > I also tend to doubt that people go to Camp 4 because they > prefer walk-in sites. From what I can tell, most people go to > Camp 4 as a last resort because it's one of the only places to > try to get a site without a reservation. I would, however, be > up for them doing some experients to see if people really do > prefer walk-in sites to drive-in sites.by Sierrafan - General Discussion
Anvanho wrote: > I hate the deet stuff ... my god, just get a microscopic speck > of it in your eyes; mouth; wherever ... and you're doomed! For the last couple of years I've used the Repel Lemon/eucalyptus spray, and found it works well. I don't know if it's as effective as deet, but it keeps the mosquitoes off, smells a heckuva lot better, and is a natural product. Last year on our latby Sierrafan - General Discussion
wbmyosemite wrote: > #2. Put an escalator and a personal chaperone on the backside > of Half Dome to make it 100% safe for everyone....then count me > out. The allure of a semi-fit-on-the-wrong-side-of-50-man is > the test of Half Dome. Can I still do it after my first time > 16 years ago? Will one day the fear of height overcome me? Or > will my lungs and/or knees tell mby Sierrafan - General Discussion
letterknit wrote: > It seems like chain links would have even more opportunities > for fingers and other things to get caught. Yes, ouch! I definitely agree, chains would be a nightmare. VPW, I've been up Angel's landing, a beautiful climb, but nothing like Half Dome. While it might give you an idea if heights bother you, it's much shorter, less strenuous, and the chained area is nothiby Sierrafan - General Discussion
letterknit wrote: > Do you usually get signed agreements, or are email agreements > sufficient? > Do you just send them the photos with a description of the > license or permissions? If you're emailing them the photos, just include the permission in the email. Spell out specifically what they can use it for, so that they don't think they can put it in their supply of stock photos toby Sierrafan - General Discussion
I'd probably just give it to them, depending. If it was a high budget nonprofit that I wasn't involved with, that wanted an 8x10 cover photo for its worldwide brochure, I might charge them $100, or maybe more if it was something really unique; but otherwise probably not. If you're a commercial photographer or trying to be one, it's more of a dilemma as you can't just give your stuff away in onby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Letterknit, I enjoyed your photos; I've been wanting to do some backpacking up in Yosemite this summer (in addition to the dayhikes and Mt. Whitney) and now I can't wait. All I need is the time to fit everything in...8^) I do have one suggestion; for those of us unfamiliar with some areas, a short caption to at least identify what it is or where it is really helps. There are some, but I foundby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Here's a link to more info, including an updated article by Bob Rockwell on the subject http://highadventure.bsadpc.org/wisdom.htm This is a more heavily-referenced and thorough version; if it's too much reading to interest you, you can skip down to the "So what about the Sierra Nevada" paragraphs in the middle, which gives some interesting statistics. One interesting observation wasby Sierrafan - General Discussion
y_p_w wrote: > BTW - our boxes were different than others I've seen. They had > a square nut and a key that's permanently attached to the door > via a half-ring. I've heard that some animals have figured out > how to press in the latches and some can even lift up those > latches that have to be lifted. Most of the boxes, at least at Upper Pines, have been converted to this typeby Sierrafan - General Discussion
They were already renting rafts at Curry last week, at the end of May. The river and falls are still springlike, but a LOT smaller than last year at this time. (we went to see the "moonbow" at lower Yosemite falls and there was not a lot of mist for the bow to form in). As for temperature, if this hot weather keeps up it might feel pretty good; but jumping in beyond my knees was not sby Sierrafan - General Discussion
I've done some serious reconsideration regarding drinking from streams recently, thanks to some reading on the Mt. Whitney board. As a kid in Colorado, we always used rivers as a drinking water source, using the simple principle of catching it where it flows quickly, preferably over rocks, and of course using common sense as to what's upstream. Since there were never any ill effects, I continueby Sierrafan - General Discussion
bpnjensen wrote: > The photographers at Y-stone can be terribly bad citizens. > Both the animals and the other viewers deserve better treatment > than some of the wackier people generally provide. > Not just at Yellowstone, or national parks for that matter. Some people just seem to think that a camera gives them some sort of priority or license to get in everybody's way. While Iby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Vince wrote: > I didn't find the videos and photos of the hike to the top of > Half Dome anywhere near the actual experience. First-hand > written accounts are more useful and let your eyes do the > walking. Would you expect photos of Europe to substitute for a trip there? How could anyone possibly duplicate a real-life experience with two-dimensional images on a screen or papby Sierrafan - General Discussion
When I first started hiking in Yosemite I thought about buying bear spray...mainly because I often hike alone and the first thing any of the "attack prevention" lists always have is "never hike alone". Fat chance 8^). After reading accounts of its use, I decided against it. It seemed like it was unnecessary for black bears to begin with, and even with grizzlies, it seemed tby Sierrafan - General Discussion
Sounds like (despite the denial) they're trying to fight back, with the recent increased efforts and considerations to get rid of the dam. Telling us how "nice" it is. Which it is, of course, but for it to be so nice now, after being turned into a water storage tank, it must have been just amazing when it was intact. It does say they show historical information...but looking at the lby Sierrafan - General Discussion
In addition to Mike's list, bring mosquito repellent on the Half Dome hike...and if any stay behind along the way, make sure they have some. If it's like last year, as long as you're moving you're OK, but if you stop, you're on the menu. Mike might have taken a shorter route, or else used a GPS to measure, as I think 13 miles is a bit low; usually it's considered 16.4 or 16.8, but it makes a liby Sierrafan - General Discussion